2 rail or 3 rail

Classic Toy Trains Forum
1

i acquired an Illinois Central Switcher #22 on ebay. It doesn’t seem to run on my layout. In looking at the bottom of the engine, i notice there is no roller in the center to complete the power connection from the center rail.

is there a way of identifying if this is a two rail engine? does it seem sensible that this engine just gets its power from the outside rails?

thanks in advance
ralph

2

You can apply DC voltage to your outside rails to find out. I wouldn’t try AC.

You also can add a pickup roller and either diodes or bridge rectifier to convert AC to DC. Bob Nelson did that with a 2-rail switcher. I’ve never attempted it.

3

What make switcher is it?
One quick tipoff is the size of the flanges. If they are smaller than you are used to seeing, it may be a 2 rail piece. General Models, and Locomotive Workshop are two manufacturers that made EMD switchers, they are pretty common.
Another is if the drive shafting is visable in the trucks, the gears for the wheelsets are also visable in there. That is the All-Nation drive.
One other question, does the engine have “feelers” that extend out past the frame? this may be an outside third rail locomotive.

4

AAAAHHHHHHH!!!
Don’t do that!!!
3 rail track is NOT insulated between the outer rails!
Apply power to the wheels, not 3 rail track, outside rails! (Atlas O is insulated, but traditional O27 style track is not)

5

tsg,

Forgot that some 3-rail track isn’t insulated; esp 027. Good point.

6

Also, you could if you had a section of Gargraves track, say if you just wanted to see if it runs. That & some other brands are insulated .
Thanks,

7

If it is one of the Atlas or AHM/Rivarossi units, it’s 2-rail DC. Check the underside for “Made in Austria” somewhere.

8

Thanks guys. It is Atlas Made in Austria faintly imprinted on the underside.

Someone will get a good buy on ebay

thanks again

ralph